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Whose Hero?
Remember in the Princess Bride when Miracle Max pumps the mostly-dead Westley’s mouth with air from the bellows and bawls at him: “Hey! Whaddya got that’s worth living for?” With the miracle man leaning on his chest, the prone Westley replies: “Tr-u-e l-o-v-e.” If someone tried the same procedure on you today, what would [...]
School Choices: Does Home Schooling Work?
For many parents, home schooling is a desirable alternative to consider, especially when educational choices are limited. Here’s some information that may help. In Australia, it is difficult to determine statistics on home school students and their academic performance, due to the small (and often outdated) amount of research. One 2006 report summarised that: While [...]
Think Fasting’s Not for You?
From Prayer Essentials for Living in His Presence, Vol. 1 by Sylvia Gunter Fast Of Words: A Different Kind Of Fast Time and again God brings me to my knees over my heart attitude expressed out of my mouth. More than once, God has led me to fast of negative, critical, judgmental, and complaining words. [...]
School Choices
If you recently finished uni or school, you may not be keen to relive those years! Let’s get on with life, right? But it’s worth looking back sometimes, because your school experience has shaped you as a person. Children spend most of their time involved with school (more than church and even family) during their [...]
Teach Us About Sex
Part of our ministry here in the islands is being a spiritual mum and dad to the Christian fellowship at the local university. The students themselves lead all the meetings and make all the plans. All we do is give occasional advice and provide spiritual nourishment once or twice a week. The weekend before last [...]
Wiser Because of Weakness
Do you remember the circumstances in which the Lord gave you a special window into your own weakness? Did that knowledge suddenly come to you, or did that realization slowly dawn on you over a lengthy period of time? Moses first attempted to deliver the Israelites from bondage when he was forty years old and “…full of [...]
The Witch Doctor and the Inscrutability of God
Mournful wailing wafted across the jagged rocks to the watchers waiting on shore. Her children at her side, a young mother pleaded into the wind, willing her voice to be carried to her missing husband. “Why did you run away from us? You left without even one word! We don’t know where you have gone. [...]
Want secure children?
A couple of weeks ago my girls asked me if they could go to a friend’s house to watch a DVD. After the choice of movie was researched and discussed, and we had prayed for wisdom, Steve and I had no peace about the girls watching it. So I gathered my three teenage girls at [...]
How Do You Perceive Reality?
Concealed in a cosy corner, she busily nibbled on a roasted coffee bean. A sudden noise and stream of light sent her dashing to the back of the drawer for safety, coffee break forgotten. I was not at all happy to glimpse the grey fur and discover the tiny droppings. That mouse and I have [...]
Devastating Renovations
The deafening drone of the masonry saw, the pounding ring of the sledge hammer, the crash of waste materials thrown down—all sweet sounds of renovation. In fact, we have a plaque hanging in the middle of the work area that reads “Joyful Noise.” The ex-recording studio is being converted to a meeting place for Bible [...]
Definitely to Die For
“Seven layers of dark chocolate cake filled with caramel mousse, pecans, frosted in our classic fudge frosting draped with caramel and topped with pecans and French chocolate drizzle”—Tasha Nicole’s “Turtle Pecan Signature” is a sweet treat to die for. Or not. Now I know some of you will say that logic has nothing to do with [...]
Succession by Death or Misadventure
Pastors die, get sick, have to leave town to look after infirm relatives, just as other people do. Sometimes their churches are not ready for their hasty departures. So what does a church do when they are left without a pastor? Perhaps these points should be made:- 1. Don’t panic. The Head of the Church, [...]
